Timothy Brown
Owner & Funeral Director
Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services
Allred Funeral Home
Bowerman Funeral Home & Cremation Services
Niles, Berrien Springs, and Eau Claire, MI
Average call volume total: 500 calls/year
As a funeral professional, you serve families day in and day out. But for as much support as you give families, you also need a partner who can support you in the same way.
Timothy Brown, Owner & Funeral Director, received genuine and caring support during one of the hardest weeks of his life.
The week before Timothy visited Funeral Directors Life’s (FDL) Home Office, his mother passed away. And while he was at dinner with the FDL team, he learned that a member of his funeral home’s staff had suddenly passed away.
Timothy was devastated. But surrounded by new friends, Timothy and his funeral home were prayed over by FDL President & CEO Kris Seale and the rest of the FDL team.
“I’ve been in this business for 35 years. I have never been in a situation or heard of a situation where the President and CEO of a company stopped everything to pray over someone’s staff, business, and family,” Timothy said. “But that’s what FDL did. I’ve never experienced something like that.”
That moment of care was the first of many in Timothy’s relationship with FDL. And through that partnership, Timothy has seen his preneed program grow, his finances become clearer, and found support he can always count on.
“Everyone at FDL works hard to provide the best quality service to us so we can provide the best quality service to our families,” Timothy said. “My only regret is that I didn't partner with FDL sooner.”
Keep reading to learn more about Timothy’s experience with FDL.
What did your preneed program look like before partnering with FDL?
We didn’t have the support we have with FDL. We worked with a different preneed provider, and when a problem came up, our only option was to call customer service. We didn’t get any on-site assistance with questions, concerns, converting policies, or marketing.
With FDL, when we’ve had a problem, question, or concern, it’s been taken care of. FDL offers such an amazing array of products and support.
What ultimately led you to try FDL's preneed service?
FDL’s hands-on level of service was definitely a differentiator. Somebody will come to my location, be here face-to-face, and answer our questions or help us solve problems when they come up. There are many products out there, but it's the support that sets FDL apart from other companies. Everyone at FDL works hard to provide the best quality service to us so we can provide the best quality service to our families.
How has your experience been with FDL's preneed service?
Fantastic. With FDL, the preneed policy growth has been exponential. It’s much higher than it was with other companies and has exceeded my expectations. The growth rate has been incredible, which helps us best serve our families and keep up with current costs.
Another thing that’s stood out to me is the resources available to us. FDL’s preneed service has proven to be great all around, from the products and merchandise to the support we receive.
How important is preneed success for funeral homes?
Years ago, reputation and level of service were the only ways you could grow your funeral home. But now, preneed is how we grow our business.
Getting to families before a death occurs is so important because when a death occurs, the decision has already been made of who they’ll call or not. When someone says, “Your loved one has passed. Who do you want us to call?” It’s whatever funeral home is top of mind. Preneed allows us to be that funeral home. That’s what preneed is all about: Building relationships and showing families that they can lean on and trust your funeral home when the time comes.
You recently started using FDL's Accounting service. How has that been?
We started using FDL Accounting a little over a year ago, and it’s been great. The reporting has been really valuable. The reports help me understand our expenses and income, and help me make more informed decisions. And based on our reports, the FDL Accounting team can provide guidance on how we can grow our business and improve our finances, which is extremely important.
With the Passare integration, everything works seamlessly. It allows us to spend more time with families, cultivate relationships, and deliver the best service we can to them, rather than being stuck at our desks doing paperwork.
You're also part of our FDL Study Groups. How has that been?
It’s been really beneficial. I’ve gained a wealth of knowledge from the people in my group. We share information and ideas, network, and lean on each other for support. (Study Group Coordinator) Angela Walker does a tremendous job planning and organizing the study group. She ensures that every meeting is beneficial.
I know the last thing someone wants to do is attend another meeting, but the reality is, it's so valuable. And I think everyone in the study group feels the same way. You'd be a fool not to be a part of it.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
It’s almost impossible for me to compare FDL with any other company. The people at FDL are real, genuine, and truly care. It shows in every single conversation. I can't see myself ever being anywhere else. My only regret is that I didn't partner with FDL sooner.
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